He was greatly perplexed

Ag 1,1-8; Ps 149; Lk 9,7-9
26 SEPTEMBER

The Book of Sirach reveals admirably the human ontological structure. He is together from God, from himself, from others and from the earth. He is made of present to be done, but leaning towards the future. He is made and must be done. He does not possess science, he must acquire it. He does not know the truth, he must learn it. Man is an unfinished mystery whose eternal completeness depends on his will. It is as if man were God of himself, but always dependent on his Creator, Lord and God. Mystery in the mystery.

The Lord from the earth created man, and in his own image he made him. Limited days of life he gives him and makes him return to earth again. He endows man with a strength of his own, and with power over all things else on earth. He puts the fear of him in all flesh, and gives him rule over beasts and birds. He forms men’s tongues and eyes and ears, and imparts to them an understanding heart. With wisdom and knowledge he fills them; good and evil he shows them. He looks with favour upon their hearts, and shows them his glorious works, That they may describe the wonders of his deeds and praise his holy name. He has set before them knowledge, a law of life as their inheritance; An everlasting covenant he has made with them, his commandments he has revealed to them. His majestic glory their eyes beheld, his glorious voice their ears heard. He says to them, “Avoid all evil”; each of them he gives precepts about his fellow men. Their ways are ever known to him, they cannot be hidden from his eyes. 

Over every nation he places a ruler, but the Lord’s own portion is Israel. All their actions are clear as the sun to him, his eyes are ever upon their ways. Their wickedness cannot be hidden from him; all of their sins are before the Lord. A man’s goodness God cherishes like a signet ring, a man’s virtue, like the apple of his eye. Later he will rise up and repay them, and requite each one of them as they deserve. But to the penitent he provides a way back, he encourages those who are losing hope!

Return to the Lord and give up sin, pray to him and make your offenses few. Turn again to the Most High and away from sin, hate intensely what he loathes; Who in the nether world can glorify the Most High in place of the living who offer their praise? No more can the dead give praise than those who have never lived; they glorify the Lord who are alive and well. How great the mercy of the Lord, his forgiveness of those who return to him! The like cannot be found in men, for not immortal is any son of man. Is anything brighter than the sun? Yet it can be eclipsed. How obscure then the thoughts of flesh and blood! God watches over the hosts of highest heaven, while all men are dust and ashes (Sir 17,1-32).

King Herod does not know what to think of Christ Jesus. He does not know because he was not formed in the knowledge of the Scriptures. Nor does he let himself be illuminated by the Holy Spirit. He lives in the sin of adultery. What science of the Highest might he have? None. Sin closes the doors of wisdom and science according to God. It deprives man of all supernatural intelligence. This is also the ontological structure of man. Who wants to know God and his works must stop sinning. Whoever sins does not know.

Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, “John has been raised from the dead”; others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see him.

Herod might also see Jesus, but never might he know him in his truth. In fact, when he saw him he did not have the science of the truth of Christ the Lord. He saw him in the guise of a magician. Since he was not heard in his requests, he sent him back to Pilate.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints, make us pure at heart. We will see God and his eternal truth.